The Arcadia™ Functional Trainer vs. the Arcadia™ Max Functional Trainer
GYMSPORTZ PTE LTD | 9 Aug 2024
Does size matter?
They’re siblings, but they’re not twins. Here’s a look at what makes the Arcadia™ functional trainer different from her big sister, the Arcadia™ max functional trainer. Hint: It's more than just size.
First, let's properly meet the two characters of discussion.
What is the Arcadia™ Functional Trainer?
The Arcadia™ functional trainer is REP's first functional trainer designed by REP's Colorado-based engineering team from the ground up. The Arcadia™ functional trainer has:
• the same awesome trolleys seen on our popular Ares™ cable attachment and Athena™ attachment
• 10lb increment, selectorized weight stacks
• in-house-designed, knurled handles
• 32 cable positions
• dual weight stacks that top out at 170lbs each, for a total of 340lbs at a 2:1 ratio (moving 100lbs feels like 50lbs). Upgrade the stacks to 220lbs each, for a total of 440lbs at a 2:1 ratio
• hot-rolled steel plates
• 5lb (feels like 2.5lbs) add-on weights for micro-adjustments
• integrated band pegs on the base and headplate to hit the maximum resistance of 540lbs
• a magnetized adjustment pin that slides in smoothly
• high-quality, galvanized wire cables with a raw-steel core
• 180-degree swivel pulleys
• patent-pending, lightweight trolleys equipped with plastic liners, knurled handles, and oversized pop-pins
• laser-cut numbers on the front of the uprights
• an integrated multi-grip pull-up bar
• two steel D-handles with nylon straps
• three heavy-duty, laser-cut pegboards with nine 4” and three 6” pegs for storage of small attachments
• a metallic powder coating
What is the Arcadia™ Max Functional Trainer?
The Arcadia™ max functional trainer was also designed by REP’s engineers in Colorado. Consider it the big sister of the Arcadia™ functional trainer. The Arcadia™ max functional trainer has:
• the unique trolleys of the Ares™ cable machine and Athena™ attachments
• 10lb increment, selectorized weight stacks
• in-house-designed, knurled handles
• 36 cable positions
• dual weight stacks that top out at 220lbs each, for a total of 440lbs at a 2:1 ratio (feels like 110lbs per stack). Upgrade the stacks to 270lbs each, for a total of 540lbs and one of the heaviest functional trainers anywhere
• hot-rolled steel plates
• integrated band pegs on the base and headplate
• a magnetized pin for weight adjustments
• integrated, selectorized 5lb micro-plates
• aluminum pulleys
• an integrated multi-grip pull-up bar
• two fully knurled, steel D-handles
• four full-length pegboards and numerous hooks for storage of small attachments
Similarities Between Arcadia™ Functional Trainer and Arcadia™ Max Functional Trainer
Those were a lot of bullet points. So let’s make it easy for you.
Here are some of the similarities between the Arcadia™ functional trainer and the Arcadia™ max functional trainer -- in the form of more bullet points. But they’re more specific bullet points, so surely that’s better.
• They both have built-in multi-grip pull-up bars for various types of pull-ups.
• They both feature integrated band pegs so you can attach bands to increase resistance and create more exercises.
• Neither has a specific lat pulldown and seated row feature.
• They have a cable ratio of 2:1. Not sure what a cable ratio means? Here’s what a cable ratio means and why that’s important.
• They are stand-alone functional trainers that do not attach onto a power rack or rig.
• They come with two D-handles.
• They have built-on storage for small attachments.
• They were both designed by REP’s Colorado-based engineering team from the ground up.
• They use the unique trolleys seen on Ares™ and Athena™ cable attachments.
• Their selectorized weight stacks jump by 10lb increments.
• They feature in-house-designed, knurled handles.
• Their plates are made from hot-rolled steel.
• You adjust the weight with a magnetized pin.
• They use high-quality, galvanized cables with raw-steel core.
• Their pulleys were both made from strong aluminum with a 180-degree swivel for versatility in exercises.
• They feature patent-pending, lightweight trolleys equipped with protective, plastic liners, knurled handles, and oversized pop-pins.
• They have laser-cut numbers on the uprights to make it easy to line up your cable height.
• They’re finished with durable metallic black powder coating.
Differences Between Arcadia™ Functional Trainer and Arcadia™ Max Functional Trainer
That’s where the similarities between the Arcadia™ functional trainer and Arcadia™ max functional trainer end.
Here are the main differences between these similar but unique pieces of gym equipment.
Cable length: The cable of the Arcadia™ max functional trainer is a whole foot longer than the OG. The cable travel for the Arcadia™ functional trainer is 6.75', whereas the max turns out to be 7.7' (93.4”).
Cable positions: The Arcadia™ max functional trainer has more cable positions – the most positions of any cable machine, actually. It boasts 36, whereas the Arcadia™ functional trainer has 32 height options on the upright.
Weight capacity: The Arcadia™ functional trainer tops out (both sides with upgraded stack and add-on weights) at 340lbs. With a 2:1 ratio, this feels like 170lbs.
The Arcadia™ max functional trainer offers a lot more, with a max capacity (with the upgraded stack and add-on weights) hitting 540lbs. At a 2:1 ratio, that feels like 270lbs. This is one of the heaviest functional trainers anywhere.
Footprint: The Arcadia™ max functional trainer is designed to be bigger. It’s taller, wider, and heavier.
The compact Arcadia™ functional trainer is 6.7' tall, 4.6' wide in the front, 2' wide on the back, and 2' deep. Or 80.9"x55.3"(front)-24"(rear)x24" (HxWxD). You can further reduce the height to 6.5' (or 78") by inverting the multi-grip pull-up bar.
The Arcadia™ max functional trainer is 7.3’ ( 87.6") tall, 6.3' ( 75.5") wide in the front, 2.7' ( 32.9") wide at the rear, and 3.7’ ( 44") deep. Every dimension is bigger. The 7.3' height makes it more suitable for taller lifters, if you gym has space.
Basically, the max is nearly a foot taller, and the front opening is a lot wider, so you have more working space. But whether this bigger footprint is a pro or con really depends on how big your home or commercial gym is.
Storage: The max has more integrated storage. The Arcadia™ max functional trainer comes with four built-on pegboards and numerous hooks. The Arcadia™ functional trainer only has three pegboards.
Micro-weights: Both have micro-weights for smaller jumps, but they’re presented differently. The Arcadia™ functional trainer comes with premium 5lb (feels like 2.5lbs) add-on weights. The Arcadia™ max functional trainer's 5lb micro-weights are integrated into the selectorized weight stack -- no separate micro-plates that can be misplaced, especially in commercial gyms.
